Automatic numbering-machine.



L. K. SCOTFORD.

AUTOMATIC NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPUCATION men 00129, 1909.

1 ,145 ,084, Patented July 6, 1915.

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L. K. SCOTFORD. AUTOMATIC NUMBERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.29, I909.

1,145,Q84;, Patented July 6, 1915.

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L.-K. SCOTFORD. AUTOMATIC NUM'BERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. 1909.

1,145,084., Patented July 6, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PLANognAPn co., WASHIN c.

LOUIS K. SCOTFORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BATES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, .N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC NUMBERING-MACHINE.

Application filed October 29, 1909.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, LoUIs K. SooTFoRD, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident,

of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Automatic Numbering- Machines, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to that class of numbering machines which are automatic in their action, and which are usually made so that they may be set in order to permit the operator to print numbers successively or to duplicate numbers before the machine automatically changes the unit wheel, or to repeatby printing the same number over and over again. Machines of this character have also been designed and arrangedso that they may be set to triplicate or print three numbers before automatically changing. The number of combinations of this character possible in my present invention is unlimited except by considerations of space and convenience. I have illustrated herewith a machine which may be set to repeat, to print consecutively, to duplicate, triplicate, to print the same number four times before the latter is automatically changed, or siX times or twelve times, the device thus being capable of being set into seven different adjusted positions.

I was granted Patent No. 815,12 for numbering machine, on March 13, 1906, the invention covered by which was, as to certain broad aspects, the same as my present invention.

The object of my present invention is to improve the construction shown in my above mentioned patent, to render the same simpler, more compact and more efficient.

In my previous invention, broadly speaking, I provide a series of numbering wheels, a pawl adapted to co-act with the units wheel of the series to cause the same to advance one number each reciprocation of the numbering head, or each time that a printing impression is made, a series of levers co-acting with the pawl to govern the operative relationship of the same to the units wheel so that it might be caused to engage a ratchet connected with the wheel to advance the same on any recurring number of printing impressions, or prevented from engaging with the ratchet wheel as desired, so that the wheel might print consecutively,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Serial No. 525,334.

repeat, duplicate, etc, at will, an automatic controller for governing the periodic movements of the pawl and an indicator, and connections for adjusting the various levers into cooperative relationship with the controller and the operating pawl.

In the construction shown in my patent as noted, a series of levers was necessary for the operation of the machine for a plurality of adjustments. In the construction illustrated in the patent four levers were necessary for a machine designed to have five operative positions. Several controlling elements were also necessary, these being rotated one step each reciprocation of the numbering head, and a governing spindle was also necessary, this being set by rotation of the indicator into different operative positions to govern the selective positions of the various levers necessary for setting the machine for the desired combinations.

In my present invention I employ a single step by step rotary controller and a single operating lever, or broadly speaking, an adjustable member which is adjusted by the setting of the indicator into position to coact with different series of actuating surfaces on the controller, which, on the step by step rotation of the controller, govern the periodic movements of the lever or adjustable means, which correspondingly governs the operative relationship of the pawl as regards the numbering wheel. ()ther specific differences from my patented structure constituting improvements thereover and over the prior art will be pointed out in the following specification.

The objects of my invention are, accordingly, the/production of an improved numbering machine comprising broadly the features above referred to.

l/Vithout in any way limiting myself to the structures illustrated in my drawings, I may say that my invention consists in a numbering machine, preferred embodiments of which are hereinafter described and in the combinations of elementsand parts set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, Figure l is a front elevation of one embodiment of my improved numbering machine. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation taken with one leg of the main frame of the machine removed on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the section thus being parallel to the front elevation shown in Fig.

opposite to that shown in Fig.2with the opposite leg of the main frame removed on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3, some of the partsbeing shown in side elevation, the machine being shown in the position in whichit isaset to repeat. Fig. 6 is a similar section also taken on line 55 of Fig. 3,- thezparts being shown in positionto permit the operat ng:- pawl to engage theratchet for advancing the unit wheel. Figs. 7 to 13 inclusiverepresent diagrammatically the-various posi- 1 tions of adjustment of the pawl, governing lever in relationto therotarycontrol'ler for the positions respectively ofrepeat,-consecuduplicating, triplicating, printing four times, siX times and twelve tive printing,

times. The left hand half of these diagrams also illustrate the means foradjusting the pawl governing lever into thewarious positions mentioned. Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3showing a-modifica tion of my invention. Fig. 15 is a section on line-1515 of Fig. 14, certain parts being shown in plan. Fig. 16 is a partial side elevation, similar to Fig. 2, of my modified construction, taken with one leg of the main frame removed on line 16- 16 of Fig. 14. Fig. 17 is a viewtaken on line 1717 of Fig. 15. In all of the-abovedescribed fig ures, the same reference characterswill be used to denote corresponding parts. Referring to the drawings, the general framework is similar to that shown'in pat-- ent to Bates No. 456,874, granted July 28, 1891.

frame, which maybe of any desired construction, and in which operates the wheel frame or yoke 2,v from which yoke projects the ordinary tubular spindle .3 in which is located the spring 4 within.the handle 5 to The printing wheels 6, 7 ,8 and 9 are car-- ried within the yoke 2, these wheels being the usual units, tens, hundreds and thousands wheels or other-suitable series ofnumbering wheels. These wheels are rotatably mounted upon the barrel 10 which is fixedlyv secured within -the dependingszmembers .of

yoke 2by any suitable means as the screws Between the wheel6 .and the left hand side memberof' the yoke 2,.as shown in Fig.7: 3, is mounted oscillatoryring 1 4;. The barrel ,10ris pro-- vided with an integralcshoulder 15 which 11 and 12 and ;the pin 13.

The character 1 indicates the main occupies the space between the right leg of the yoke 2,'as indicated in Fig. 3, and the 1. Fig. 4 is a partial elevation of the-side periphery of number wheel 9, thus preventithe ifeo f in themanner shown and described in my Patent No. 815,124. Each ratchet comprises. tennotches, one of them being the deep notch which is commonly used in the common in the art, and isshown in my patshown the'construction here. The pawl bar lar to the teeth '66 of the pawl bar 60 illustrated-in nay-patent above referred to. These pawls :17 are stepped in the usual manner, that is, eachof them projects a art for the purpose-of transferring from" one denomination to the other.- As this is .ent above referredto, I have not specifically little farther than the preceding pawl. The

pawl for the units-wheel projects farther than all the other 'pawls and engages with the notches in the interior ratchet of the units wheela While, in the operation of the machine this pawl engages the notches of. the

the numbering head, however, the deep I notch of the units wheel comes opposite the units pawl, which permits the pawl opposite the ratchet of the tens wheel to" engage a notch therein for the purpose. ofv carrying forward the ten in the well known manner,

.the carrying operation being similarly performedfor the other denominations.

The pawl bar 16 is pivoted at its two ends at 18 to arms ofhell cranks 19 and 20 which are mounted outside the left and right legs respectively of the yoke 2, as shown in Fig.

3. Bell cranks 19 and 20 are mounted to oscillate'upon spindle 21 which extends cen trally through the barrel andfis carried by j the twolegs ofyoke 2. ,The other arms 22 of bell crank. 19 and 23 of bell crank 20 i are slotted asshownat 24', 25. Bell cranks 19 and 20 and the pawl bar 16 carried thereby are oscillated each reciprocation of the numbering head through the link connection 26, one link being provided at eachside of the machine and carrying pins 27. which engage respectively within slots. 24, 25. Links 26 are pivoted atf283to the two side members of the yoke 2. At their lower ends links 26 are pivoted at'29'to the ink pad-carrier 3O whichis pivotedito the legs of the main frame 1 by short screws'31, one on each side. j

The result ofthis construction is that as the numbering head is forced down to make an impression, the ink pad is swung back out of the way of the numbering wheels and the bell cranks 19, 20 and pawl bar 16 carried thereby are swung backward over the interior ratchets of the numbering wheels. As the numbering head is permitted to rise after the printing impression the ink pad returns to position to engage the Wheels at the end of the upward stroke, and the bell cranks carrying the pawl bar oscillate forward, the units pawl carrying the units wheel forward one step. Leaf spring 32 is coiled around a pin 33 on bell crank 19 and presses upward on pin 34 on pawl bar 16 to press the pawl bar normally upward into position to engage the notches of the interior ratchet wheels. If pressure is exerted on pawl bar 16 on the edge thereof distant from its pivot 18 at a time when the pawls thereof are not engaging their ratchets, as on the backward stroke of the pawl bar, pawl bar 16 will be turned pivotally about its pivot 18 against the pressure of spring 32, so that on its forward stroke the pawls will not engage their ratchets and none of the printing wheels will be moved. When it is desired to duplicate, triplicate, or the like, the pawl bar 16 is pressed down to maintain the units pawl thereof out of contact with the units ratchet wheel for the requisite number of reciprocations of the numbering head by automatic means which I will now describe.

An automatic controlling or governing member which preferably takes the form of a fiat disk, as shown, is numbered 35 in the drawings, and is rotatably mounted upon the screw 36 which is screwed into the numberinghead so that the disk 35 is horizontally disposed immediately above the numbering wheels. This disk is rotatable one step at a time each reciprocation of the numbering head, as will be explained. This disk has a number of holes formed therethrough or recesses formed in the lower or operative face thereof, which are adapted to co-act in the step by Ste a movement of the controller with the nose 3 of the lever 38 pivoted at 39, the lower surface of the lever below the nose 37 co-acting with a member 40 pivoted at 41 and resting on the pawl bar 16 to the right of the pawls 17, referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings. When the nose 37 of lever 38 is opposite one of the recesses in the controller 35, the said nose 37 is forced upward into the recess by the action of spring 32, which tends to always force pawl bar 16 into its upper position, the pawl bar rising under the influence of the spring and swinging member 40 upwardly about its pivot 41, and through member 40, raising the lever 38 as noted. In this position of the pawl bar, the latter engages the notches of the internal ratchet wheel or wheels to rotate the unit wheel thereof and any of the numbering wheels of higher denomination which may be in position to move forward one step to carry a number each reciprocation of the numbering head and consequent oscillation of the pawl bar. When, however, the nose 37 of lever 38 is opposite any of the solid portions of the controller, member 40 and pawl bar 16 are forced downwardly thereby, so that the pawls 17 of pawl bar 16 are prevented from engaging with the notches of the internal ratchets and the pawl bar oscillates idly forward and back each reciprocation of the numbering head until a recess of controller 35 is brought opposite the nose 37 of lever 38 in the step by step movement of the controller 35. The controller 35 is rotated step by step by means of pawl 42 which is carried by oscillatory pawl carrier 14 mounted upon the barrel 10 as above noted. Pawl carrier 14 is oscillated each reciprocation of the numbering head because of the forward and back oscillation of bell crank 19 which, as has been stated, is oscillated by link connection 26 pivotally connected to the inking pad holder 30. A pin 43 on bell crank 19 engages within a corresponding hole on the side of pawl carrier 14 to permit the oscillation of pawl bar 16 and the pawl carrier 14. Pawl 42 is pivotally connected to pawl carrier 14 by small screw or pin 43, pawl 42 thereby being permitted lateral movement in order that on its return movement after stepping forward controller 35 one step, it may pass by the projections formed on the periphery of controller 35, as shown on the right hand portion of Fig. 7. A small spring 44 is attached to pivot 43 and bears upon a small pin secured to pawl 42, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to constantly press pawl 42 into operative position in contact with the periphery of controller 35. As shown in Fig. 2, pawl 42 preferably rests on a flattened out portion of the periphery of pawl carrier 14. Pawl 45 is provided in connection with controller 35 to prevent backward movement of the same.

Lever 38 is adapted to be positioned or adjusted laterally across the face of controller 35in order that its nose 37 may be brought into the path of different series of recesses in the face of the controller. The means by which lever 38 may be thus adjusted will now be described. An index plate 46 is secured, as shown, to the front framework of the machine. Indicator or pointer 47 pivoted at 48 is adapted to be rotated about index plate 46. Handle 49 is provided upon pointer 47 by which the pointer may be moved into any of its adjusted positions. A disk 50 is rotatably mounted upon stud 48 upon the back of indicator plate 46, disk 50 thus rotating with pointer 47. A pin 51 is eccentrically mounted upon the inner face of disk 50 as shown in the drawings,- this eccentric pin 51 being positionedwithin a slot 52 formed in a depend ing portion 53 which is integral with lever 38. Lever 38 and fork 53 accordingly form the two arms of a bell cranklever having a body or bearing portion 54: slidably mounted upon: stud 39. The rotation of pointer 4C7v through the eccentric pin and slot connection noted accordingly serves to reciprocate the.

bell crank lever forward and backward upon its stud 39, the nose 37 of lever 38 belng. accordingly moved radially across controller disk-35. As shown in the drawings, needle.

47 may have seven operative positions. These are indicated on the index plate 46 by the-index characters 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,6 and-12,

corresponding to the positions of: repeat,-

consecutive printing, duplicating, triplicat ing, and printing four times, six times and twelve times respectively before the changingof the number. The cooperation of-nose 37 with controller 35 to produce these combinations will now be explained. For repeat printing, that is, for the continuous printing of-the same number, it is obvious that pawls 17 should oscillate idly each printing impression without engaging any of the ratchets. Accordingly, for this operation lever 38'is held in its lowered position in which it presses upon pivot-ed member 40 to hold pawl bar 16 in its inoperative position disk 50 and above the center ofstud' 39 on which the bell crank is pivoted. This projection 55 rests upon the face of disk 50 near the periphery thereof, the inner face of this disk- 50, that is, the face thereof adjacent projection 55, being provided with anumber of recesses 56 adjacent the periphery of the disk. As shown in the drawings, there are six of these recesses 56, that is, one for each operative position of the indicator. When disk 50 is rotated by rotation of pointer A7 lever 38 is rocked about its pivot 39 by movement of disk 50 past projection 55, the solid portions of disk 50 pressing upon projection 55 to rock the lever 38 downwardly into such a position that its nose 37 cannot enter any of the recesses in disk 35, upward'movement of the lever being, however, permitted when projection 55 is opposite any of the recesses 56. These recesses are so spaced that oneof the same is brought opposite projection 55- for every operative position of the handle except the repeat'position. In the repeat position, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, a solid portion of disk 50 is opposite projection 55, wheneby'lever. 38. is positively held in its lower position. so that pawl bar 16 is thereby; held in inoperative position as long as the indicator remains in position opposite the repeat indication. 1t will also be noted that theileveri 38-is locked in this sameposition'at all other; times except when it is oppositeonesof the indications other than the repeat indication.

lVhenlitis desired to print consecutively,

indicator: 47 is placed on the 1 indica tion, which results in positioning the nose 37 iiof lever: 38 completely beyond the pe-. riphery of disk35. This position is shown in Fig; Prof-the drawings in which the nose 37 is shown" diagrammatically to the right ofthe disk. WVhen nose 37 is so adjusted spring: 32 raises the pawl bar 16 into. its operativeiposition for engaging the internal. ratchet of the unitswheel every reciprocation of' thenumbering'head, nose 37 of lever 38' being to theside of the controller so thatthe rotation of the latter can have no effect upon the lever,xand consequently the pawl continues to engage'the ratchet each reciprocation ofthe numbering head as long as this adjustment isrmaintained. When it is desired to duplicate, the pointer 47 is placed oppositev the figure2 on the index plate, whichresultsin. moving nose 37 of lever 38 radially into the position indicated in Fig; 9 ofthe drawings. In this figure,

nose 37 is shown diagrammatically co-acting with .sixznotches or recesses of'the controller 35. In the deviceas. illustrated in the, drawings, twelve re'ciprocations of the numbering headare required. for completely rotating thecontroller 35 throughv 360 degrees. Ac-

cordingly, .in: the position shown in Fig. 9, a notch or. recess of controller 35 is brought opposite: nose'37: every other reciprocation of the-numbering head. That is to say, if

the operation of duplicate printing is started with nose 37 opposite the deepest notch 57 of the controller shown in Fig. 9

to the extreme right of the disk, spring. 32' will force the pawl bar upward into operative position, forcing nose 37 into notch 57. Accordingly, the printing wheel will be stepped: forward one space on the reciprocation of thenumbering head corresponding to this position. On the next reciprocation, nose 37 will'be opposite a solid portion of diska35 above notch 57 as shown in ig.

9, and the same number will again be printed,.controller 35 being rotated in a clock-wise: direction, as shown in the diagram. On the neXt reciprocation, nose 37 will fall intonotch 58 which will then be directly above nose 37, and similarly, a recess or notch in the disk will be brought into alinement' with nose 37 so that the A latter may be moved into the same every' other reciprocationof the numbering head.

When it is desired to triplicate, pointer 47 is placed opposite the figure 3 on the index plate, whereupon nose 37 will be moved still farther radially toward the center of controller 35 into position to fall into four notches or recesses in controller 35, as shown in Fig. 10. that is to say, the printing wheel will be allowed to shift one unit every third reciprocation of the numbering head. When the pointer is set opposite the Fig. 4 for printing the same number four times in succession before changing, nose 37 is moved still farther radially toward the center of the disk into position to co-act with three notches or recesses of the controller, as shown in Fig. 11. When it is desired to print the same number twelve times before shifting, the pointer 47 is placed upon the indication 12 and nose 37 is then positioned to co-act with only one deep notch 57 of controller 35 so that in the complete revolution of the latter requiring twelve reciprocations of the numbering head, the units wheel will be advanced only once, as shown in Fig. 12. When it is desired to print successively six times, the nose 37 is positioned as shown in Fig. 13 to co-act with the deep notch 57 and the notch 59 diametrically opposite thereto and no other notches or recesses.

As is shown in the drawings, my machine is capable of printing with any order of pei'iodic changes which are a factor of twelve. If it were desired to produce some other series of combinations, as the factors of fifteen, that is to say, 0, 1, 3, 5 and 15, it would only be necessary to design the controller to rotate once in fifteen times and to position the notches and recesses accordingly. It will be noted that the ratchet with which pawl 42 oo-acts to step the controller around is formed on the periphery of the controller disk itself, and that the lips of some of the controlling notches of the controller are utilized as ratchet teeth co-acting with pawl 42. The spaces between the notches and recesses of the controller may be considered as positive operating means for forcing lever 38 downwardly to hold the pawl bar in its inoperative position.

In the operation of the device shown in my drawings, nose 37 is forced upward into the recesses of the controller disk by the spring attached to pawl bar 16, nose 37 being forced downwardly out of these recesses by the oamming action of the edges of the recesses themselves on the rotation of the disk. It is obvious that, if desired, in place of using a disk furnished with punched notches and recesses, a fiat disk having lugs or projections corresponding to the spaces between the notches as illustrated in the drawings, might be used. It is also obvious that the operative surfaces of the controller might be formed in other ways, and that the controller itself need not be a disk, but might be, for example, a step by step rotatable cylinder having series of notches or lugs corresponding to those on the disk 35, in which case the nose 37 of lever 38 could be adjusted axially of the cylinder by movement of the indicator 47. Likewise, a con struction in which movement of the controller serves to positively move the lever away from pawl bar 16 instead of toward the same, this being a reversal of the specific form of my drawings, is within the scope of my invention. It is also obvious that various other details of construction may be changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 14 to 17, the oscillatory pawlbearing member 14 is reduced in thickness to save space in the direction axial of the printing wheels. This member is shown at 14.

In place of this carrying pivoted pawl 42 to rotate the controller disk 35, it is provided with the fixed pin 60 which engages within notch 61 of pawl carrier 62 which is horizontally disposed immediately below controller disk 35 and is pivoted co-axially therewith on stud 36. Pawl carrier 62 carries pawl 42 which is pivoted at 43 to pawl carrier 62 and is spring pressed into engagement with the periphery of controller 35 and the teeth formed thereon, to rotate the same step by step, by spring 44, which is attached to pivot 43 or to pawl carrier 62 and bears upon the back of pawl 42, opposite the nose thereof. Oscillatory member 14 is oscillated by the movement of the bell crank 19 bearing pin 43 which extends into a hole in member 14, in the same manner as was pawl carrier 14 in the first described embodiment of my invention. When member 14' is oscillated, pawl carrier 62 is oscillated by pin 60 and controller 35 is stepped forward by pawl 42. In the modified construction also lever 38 and coiiperating parts are given a somewhat different form. Disk 50 is rotatably mounted upon stud 48 which bears the index hand 47 as in the other construction, and disk 50 is also provided with the same eccentric pin 51 which operates within slot 52 of fork 53 integral with lever 38 which bears a nose or lug 37 co-acting with controller disk 35. This lever is pivotally mounted on stud 39, having bearing portions 54, 54 embracing the same and slidably mounted thereon, so that nose 37 may be positioned relative to controller 35. In this construction lever 38 is flat and takes up less room than in the other construction. Member 40 pivoted at 41 acts as the intermediate member between lever 38 and the pawl bar 16 in the same manner as member 40 in the other construction, lever 38 being depressed by the riding of nose 37 over the portions of the disk 35 between recesses, to depress member to hold pawl bar 16 in its inoperativeposition'. The lever 38 is provided with an extension or projection 68 shown at its right handside in Figs. 14 and 15, which extends into an opening 69 provided in the wall of the wheel frame 2. The projection 68 is long'enough to permit the lever 38 to be moved to its extreme left hand position without moving out of engagement with the pivoted member 40.

The means by which lever 38 is locked in its lower position when index hand47 is opposite the repeat indication, or is between positions, is somewhat different in this construction from that first described. Disk 50 is provided with peripheral notches 56 which, as shown inFig. 17, extend axially across the periphery thereof; Lover 68 pivoted at 64: has a projection 65on-its under side which is adapted to ride onfthe periphery of disk- 50. Leaf spring66 is secured to lever 63 and bears against the under side of the horizontal portion of-yoke 2 to press lever 68 downward. When nose 65 rests in any of the notches 56-, lever 38 is free to vco-act with controller 35, and nose 37 of the lever can enter any of the recesses in'the controller. Whennose 65 ridesupon the periphery of disk 50 between notches, however, the tail of lever 38 is pressed upwardly, and contacts lug 67 on lever 38. As lug 67 is on the opposite side of the pivot 39 from nose 37 on lever'38, it is obvious that when lug 67 is'raised-by'nose 65 of lever '63 riding on the-periphery of disk'50' between notches, nose 37' will be lowered and positively locked in its lower position, inwhich it can not enter any'of'therecesses in controller 35, and accordingly, pawls 17 will be locked in a position of'disengagement from the internal ratchets of the printing wheels. In this construction, which is thought to be preferable mechanically to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 13, lug 67 performs the function of lug on disk 50 shown in the said*figures, lever 63 being'an intermediatemember having no counterpart in the first construction.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect'by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing'wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with the interior of said wheel to give a step'by stepmovement thereto between printingimpressions, of an indicator and a chain of elements in- 'termediate said indicator and said cooperating means selectively positioned by movement of said indicator into any of a plurality of positions and automaticallyjoperative-to cause said wheel and cooperating meansperiodically to fail to cooperate for different determinatenumbers of printing impressions, substantially as described.

2. In a numbering machine, the combination with aprinting wheel and means normally tending to cooperate withthe in terior' of said wheel to give'a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of a single means for rendering inoperative said cooperating means, and means for automatically controlling the operation of said single means to cause the same to operate periodically for different determinate numbers of impress1ons,-substantiallyas described. v

In a numbering machine, the combination witha printing wheel and means normally'tending to cooperate with the interior of said wheel to give a step by; step movement' thereto between printing impressions, of a single chain of elements including an adjustable member for automatically rendering said cooperating means periodically ineffective for different determinate numbers of impressions, substantially as de scribed.

i. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel and a pawl adapted to coact with the interior thereof forgiving a step by step'movement thereto, of means for oscillating said pawl, means tending to cause said pawl to step forward said wheel with each oscillation, a single means for disabling saidlast named means, and means for automatically controlling the periodic operation of said disabling-means for different determinate numbersof -oscillations of said pawl, substantially as de scribed.

5. In a numbering machine, the combination. with a printingwheel and means cooperable with the interior thereof to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of a member for controlling the operativeness of said means, a controller for controlling the operativeness of said member, and means for positioning said member selectively with respect to said controller in aplurality of positions greater than two to govern the operation thereof, substantially as describedi 6. In a numbering-machine, the combination with a printing wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with the interior of said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of a pivoted'member movable into po sition to render inoperativesaidcooperating means and acontroller for automatically operating the said member periodically for different determinate numbers of impressions, substantially as described. v

7 In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel andmeansnormally tending tocooperate with I said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator, acontroller and means wholly moved and selectively positioned by movement of said indicator with respect to said controller to cause the said wheel and cooperating means periodically to fail for determinate numbers of printing impressions to cooperate, the position of said selectively positioned means with respect to said controller determining the difierent periods of said cooperation and non-cooperation corresponding to the position of said indicator, substantially as described.

8. In a numbering machine, the combina tion with a printing Wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator, a controller and a lever selectively positioned by movement of said indicator with respect to said controller to cause the said wheel and cooperating means periodically to fail for determinate numbers of printing impressions to cooperate, the position of said lever with respect to said controller determining the different periods of said cooperation and non-cooperation corresponding to the position of said indicator, substantially as described.

9. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator having a plurality of positions greater than two, a controller, and means wholly moved and selectively positioned in accordance with the movements of said indicator and in respect to said controller to govern under the influence of said controller the periods of cooperation and non-cooperation of said wheel and cooperating means, the said periods being varied in accordance with the position of the indicator, substantially as described. I

10. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel and means nor mally tending to cooperate with said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator having a plurality of positions greater than two, a controller, and a lever selectively positioned in accordance with the movements of said indicator and in respect to said controller to govern under the influence of said controller the periods of cooperation and non-cooperation of said wheel and cooperating means, the said periods being varied in accordance with the position of the indicator, substantially as described.

11. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator having a plurality of positions, a controller and means selectively and positively moved with respect to said controller by every movement of said indicator to govern the periods of cooperation and non-cooperation of said wheel and cooperating means, the said moved means being controlled by said controller in its governing function, substantially as described.

12. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator having a plurality of positions, a controller and means moved bodily into different operative positions with respect to said controller in accordance with the movements of said indicator to govern under the influence of said controller and in accordance with the position of said indicator the periods of cooperation and non-cooperation of said wheel and cooperating means, substantially as described.

13. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing Wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with the interior of said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator and a chain of elements intermediate said indicator and said cooperat ing means selectively positioned in accordance with movements of said indicator to cause automatically the said wheel and cooperating means periodically to fail to cooperate for difterent determinate numbers of printing impressions, substantially as described.

14:. In a numbering machine, the combination with a printing wheel and means normally tending to cooperate with the interior of said wheel to give a step by step movement thereto between printing impressions, of an indicator having a plurality of posi tions greater than two, and a chain of elements intermediate said indicator and said cooperating means selectively positioned in accordance with movements of said indicater to govern automatically the periods of cooperation and non-cooperation of said wheel and cooperating means, said periods being varied in accordance with the position of said indicator, substantially as described.

15. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl co-acting with the interior thereof, a controller and a single chain of operative connections between said pawl and controller co-acting with said pawl and automatically permitting it to move periodically, the period varying in accordance with the position of said connections relative to saidcontroller, said connections having morethan two positions, substantially as described.

'16. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, anoperating pawl co-acting with the interior thereof, a controller, and operative connections between said pawl and controller co-acting. with said pawl, said controller automatically permitting said connections to move periodically to release said pawl and allow it to operate, and means: for so moving said connections, sub stantially as described.

17. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl co-acting with the interior-thereof, a controller, and operative connections between'said pawl and controller co-acting with said pawl to hold the same out of engagement with said wheel, said controller operating automatically to permitsaid connections tomove periodically to release said pawl, and meansfor so moving saidconnections, substantially as described.

18. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl co-acting with the interior thereof, a controller, and operative connections between said pawl and controller co-acting with said pawl, and means for moving said controller step by step to periodically and automatically move said connections to hold said pawl out of operative engagement with saidwheel, substantially as described.

19. In a numbering machine, the combination'of a printing wheel, an operating pawl co-acting therewith, a controller, and operative connections between said pawl and controller co-acting with said pawl, means for moving said controller step by step to. periodically move said connections to hold said pawl out of operative engagement with said wheel, and to permit said connections to move out of operative relatlon to sald pawl,

and means for so moving said connections, substantially as described.

20. In a numbering machine, the con1bination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl 00- acting therewith, a controller, and operative connections between said pawl and controller co-acting with said pawl, means for moving said controller step by step to periodically move said connections to hold said pawl out of operative engagement with said wheel, and to permit said connections to move out of operative relation to said pawl, and means for adjusting the position of said connections relative to said controller to vary the operative period of the movement thereof, substantially as described.

21. In a numbering machine, the combination of a reciprocatable printing wheel, a paw-l, a lever co-actmg with sald pawl, a rotary controller having recesses and solid portions, the solid portions coracting with said lever-;for.;fo rcing it toward said pawl and ;means operable. during reoiprocations 'of said wheel'for rotating'said controller, substantially, as described.

22.- In a numbering machine, the combi troller having solid portions coacting with said member for forcing it toward said pawl and recesses for permitting movement of said lever away from-said pawl, and means forfrotating said controller step by step,

substantially as described.

24-. In a numbering machine, the combination of aprinting wheel, a pawl, amemberico-acting with said pawl, a. rotary disk having recesses and solid-portions,-thesolid portions co-acting with said member for forcing it toward said pawl, said recesses being arranged in different seriesat different radial distances from the center of said disk, substantially as described.

25. In a numbering machine, the combination of a reciprocatable printing wheel, an actuating pawltherefor, a member adapted to coact with said-pawl and movable into position relative thereto to render the same inefiective to actuatethe wheel, a. rotary disk'having recessescapable of receiving a portion of said member in any of a plurality of relative positions of said-member and disk, said member being moved into such position as to allow said pawl to actuate said wheel whenever said portion of said member enters any of said recesses, and means operable during reciprocations of said wheel for rotating-said disk, substantially as described.

26. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a pawl, a member co-acting with said pawl, a rotary disk hav ing recesses adapted to co-act with said member to permit it to move away from said pawl when said recesses are moved opposite said member, said recesses being arranged indifferent series at different radial distances from the centerof said disk and means, for rotating said disk, substantially as described.

27. In a numbering machine, the combination of'a printingwheeh'a pawl, a member coacting with said pawl, a rotary diskhaving recesses and solid portions, the. solid portions co-acting with said member for forcing it toward said pawl, said recesses being arranged in different series at different radial distances from the center of said disk, and means for adjusting said member at different radial distances from the center of said disk, substantially as described.

28. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, a pawl, a member co-acting with said pawl, a rotary disk having recesses adapted to co-act with said member to permit it to move away from said pawl when said recesses are moved opposite said member, said recesses being arranged in difi'erent series at different radial distances from the center of said disk, and means for adjusting said member at different radial distances from the center of said disk, substantially as described.

29. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a member co-acting with said pawl, a rotary controller having recesses and solid portions, the solid portions co-acting with said member for forcing it toward said pawl, said recesses being arranged in different series about said controller, and means for rotating said controller step by step, substantially as described.

30. In a numbering machine,the combination of a. printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a member coac'ting with said pawl, a rotary controller having recesses and solid portions coacting with said member for governing the coaction of said member and pawl, said recesses being arranged in different series about said controller, means for rotating said controller step by step, and means for adjusting said member into oper ative relation with any of said series at will, substantially as described.

31. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a member co-acting with said pawl, a rotary controller having recesses arranged about said controller in difierent series and differently spaced, co-acting with said member for governing the co-action of said member and pawl, means for rotating said controller step by step, and means for adjusting said member into operative relation with any or none-of said series at will, substantially as described.

32. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a member co-acting with said pawl, an automatic controller having recesses arranged about said controller in different series and differently spaced, co-acting with said member for governing the co-action of said member and pawl,tmeans for moving said controller step by step in such a manner as to progress the recesses of any series with which said member is in operative relation past the same, and means for adjusting said member into operative relation with any or none of said series at will, substantially as described.

33. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a member co-acting with said pawl, an automatic controller having means arranged thereon in different series differently spaced co-acting with said member for governing the co-action of the latter and said pawl, means for moving said controller step by step in such a manner as to progress the means of any series with which said member is in operative relation past the same, and means for adjusting said member into operative relation with any or none of said series at will, substantially as described.

34. In a numbering machine, the com bination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a lever co-acting with said pawl for governing the engagement thereof with said wheel, a rotary disk having recesses therein arranged in different series at different radial distances from the center of said disk, means for rotating said disk step by step, means for adjusting said lever to place its nose in operative relation to the recesses of any desired series, and means for moving said nose into any recess which is brought opposite the same, substantially as described.

35. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, a lever co-acting with said pawl for governing the engagement thereof with said wheel, a rotary controller having recesses therein arranged in different series diflerently spaced about the same, means for rotating said controller step by step, means for adjusting said lever to place its nose in operative relation to the recesses of any desired series, and means for moving said nose into any recess which is brought opposite the same, substantially as described.

36. In a numbering machine, the combination of a controller, an indicator, a lever cooperable with said controller, and means operated by said indicator for adjusting said lever transversely of said controller, substantially as described.

37. In a numbering machine, the combination of a controller, an indicator, a lever coiiperable with said controller, and means operated by said indicator for adjusting said lever in two planes, substantially as de scribed.

38. In a numbering machine, the combination of a controller having operative surfaces differently arranged, an indicator, a lever cooperable with said controller, and means operated by said indicator for adjusting said lever into operative relation with any or none of said surfaces, substantially as described.

39. In a numbering machine, the combination of a controller having operative surfaces difl'erentlyarranged, an indicator, a lever codperable with said controller, a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor governed by said lever, and means operated by said indicator for adjusting said lever into operative relation with any or none of said surfaces for varying the government of said pawl by said lever, substantially as described.

40. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, means for reciprocating said wheel to print, a controller having operative surfaces differently arranged, a lever cooperable with any of said surfaces and with said pawl, said lever governing said pawl differently-according to the cooperating controller surface, and means for stepping said controller with the reciprocations of said wheel to progress said surfaces past said lever, substantially as described.

41. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, means for reciprocating said wheel to print, a controller having operative surfaces differently arranged, a lever cooperable with any of said surfaces and with said pawl, said lever governing said pawl differently according to the coiiperating controller surface, an indicator and means operated thereby for positioning said lever with respect to said surfaces, and means for stepping said controller with the reciprocations of said wheel to progress said surfaces 'past said lever, substantially as described.

42. In a. numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl therefor, means for reciprocating said wheel to print, a rotary controller, and adjustable means between said controller and pawl, co-acting with said pawl to hold the same in non-operativeposition periodically for different numbers of reciprocations of said wheel, which nuinbers are factors of a given number, and said number, according to the adjustment of said means, substantially as described.

43. In a numbering machine, a rotary controller having operative recesses there in, and means for stepping said controller around in a certain number of steps, said recesses being arranged in circular series, each' having a number of recesses which is a factor of said certain number, substantially as described.

ea. In a numbering machine, in combina tion, a reciprocatable printing wheel, means normally tending to give a step by step movement to said wheel with each reciprocation, a rotary controller, means; for rotating the same completely step by stepin a certain number of reciprocations of said wheel, and means operated from said controller for causing said Wheel to advance one number only once in said certain nuin ber ofrec'iprocations, or not at all, or different numbers of times which are factors of said certain :number, at will, substantially as described.

45;In a numbering machine, in combination, a controller, an indicator, a single lever cooperable with said controller, and means operated'by said indicator for shifting said lever in the direction of its axis of rotation across said controller, substantially as described. i

"46. In a numbering machine, in'combina tion, a controller, an lndicator, a single lever cooperable with said controller, and means operated by said indicator forshifting said lever in-the direction ofits axis of rotation across'said controller and moving it pivotally, substantially as described. I

r7. In a 'nuinberingmachine, in combination, a controller, an indicator, a single lever coiiperable with said controller, and means operated by said indicator for shifting said lever in the direction of its axis of rotation acrosssaidcontroller and moving it pivotally, "said means locking said lever out of operative relationwith said controller in one position of said indicator, substantially as described.

458: In a numbering machine, in combination, a rotary indicator, an eccentric member rotated thereby, a lever shifted axially by said eccentric member, and means rotated with said eccentric member for rockin said lever pivotally, substantially as described.

49; In a numbering machine, in combination, a rotary indicator having a plurality of operative positions, a controller, a lever shifted with respect to said controller by said indicator and adapted to co-act therewith, and means for locking said lever out of operative relation with said controller when said indicator is not inany of its operative positions, substantially as described.

50. In a numbering machine, in combination, a rotary indicator having a plurality of operative positions including a repeat position, a controller, printing wheels and co-acting pawls, means adjusted by said indicator with respect to said controller and adapted to co-act therewith to govern said pawls, and means for locking said means in positlon to hold said pawls-out :of engagement with "said wheels when said indicator 1s in repeat positlonor between positions, substantially as described. p '51. In a numbering.machine,,in combination, arotary indicator having a plurality of operative positions, a controller'having operative recesses arranged in its surface, means for rotating said controller step by step, .means adjusted with respect to said controller by said indicator and adapted to co-act with said recesses, and means rotated with said indicator permitting coaction of said means with said recesses only when said indicator is in a proper position, substantially as described.

52. In a numbering machine, in combination, a reciprocatable head, printing wheels carried thereby, oscillatory pawls adapted to coact with the interiors of said wheels, a rotary controller for governing the coaction of said pawls with said wheels carried by said head above said wheels and non-coaxially therewith, and means for oscillating said pawls and moving said controller step by step, substantially as described.

53. In a numbering machine, in combination, a reciprocatable head, printing wheels carried thereby, oscillatory pawls adapted to coact with the interiors of said wheels, a rotary controller carried by said head above said wheels and non-coaxially therewith, and connections governed by said controller for governing the coaction of said pawls with said wheels, substantially as described.

54. In a numbering machine, in combination, a reciprocatable head, printing wheels carried thereby, oscillatory pawls adapted to co-act with said wheels, a rotatable controller for governing the co-action of said pawls with said wheels, an oscillatory member, a support for said wheels and member, a pawl receiving its motion from said mem ber adapted to rotate said controller step by step, and means for oscillating said pawls and member every reciprocation of said head, substantially as described.

55. In a numbering machine, in combination, a reciprocatable head, printing wheels carried thereby, oscillatory pawls adapted to co-act with said wheels, a rotatable controller for governing the co-action of said pawls with said wheels, an oscillatory pawl carrier, a pawl carried by said carrier adapted to rotate said controller step by step, pivoted bell cranks, said pawl carrier and oscillatory pawls being operat-ively connected to said bell cranks, and means for rocking said bell cranks with every reciprocation of said head, substantially as described.

56. In a numbering machine, in combination, a reciprocatable head, printing wheels carried thereby, oscillatory pawls adapted to coact with the interiors of said wheels, a rotary controller for governing the coaction of the said pawls with said wheels carried by said head above said wheels and noncoaxially therewith, and means for oscillating said pawls and moving said controller, substantially as described.

57 In a numbering machine, in combination, a reciprocatable head, printing wheels carried thereby, oscillatory pawls adapted to coact with the interiors of said wheels, and a flat rotatable disk controller carried by said head and having its axis at right angles to that of said wheels and adapted to govern the coaction of said pawls with said wheels, substantially as described.

58. In a numbering machine, in combination, printing wheels, a support therefor, actuating pawls for the wheels, an oscillatory member carried by said support, a rotary controller, a pawl receiving its motion from said member and adapted to rotate said controller step by step, and means for oscillating said member, substantially as described.

59. In a numbering machine, in combination, printing wheels, a support therefor, actuating pawls for the wheels, an oscillatory member carried by said support and having the same axis as the wheels, a rotary controller, a pawl receiving its motion from said member and adapted to rotate said controller step by step, and means for oscillating said member, substantially as described.

60. In a numbering machine, in combination, a printing wheel, an actuating pawl therefor, a controller having operative recesses therein aflecting the operation of the pawl and ratchet teeth thereon, a pawl coacting with the ratchet teeth and the edges of some of the recesses, and means for operating the controller pawl to step said controller, substantially as described.

61. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an operating pawl coacting therewith, a controller, and operative connections between said pawl and controller coacting with said pawl, and means for rotating said controller step by step and in a single direction only to periodically move said connections to hold said pawl out of operative engagement with said wheel, substantially as described.

62. In a numbering machine, the combination of a printing wheel, an actuating pawl cotiperable with the interior thereof, a

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